Sean Combs was sued Monday by a music producer who accused the hip-hop mogul of initiating unwanted sexual contact and forcing him to hire and engage in sexual acts with prostitutes.
The latest allegation of misconduct against Mr. Combs was filed by Rodney Jones Jr., also known as Lil Rod, in Federal District Court in Manhattan. In 2022 and 2023, Mr. Jones says in his suit, he worked on “The Love Album: Off the Grid,” the latest album from Mr. Combs, the hip-hop and R&B impresario who also goes by Puff Known is Papa and P. Diddy. Mr. Jones says he served as producer on nine tracks on the album and lived with Mr. Combs for months.
While working on “The Love Album,” Mr. Jones says in his complaint that Mr. Combs grabbed his genitals without consent and that he also tried to “train” Mr. Jones to have sex with another man by telling him to , it is “normal practice in the music industry.”
In a statement, Shawn Holley, an attorney for Mr. Combs, said, “Lil Rod is nothing more than a liar who shamelessly filed a $30 million lawsuit in search of an undeserved salary.” His reckless name-calling of Events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen are nothing more than a transparent attempt to grab headlines. We have overwhelming, indisputable evidence that his claims are complete lies.”
When the lawsuit was filed, the court system initially said Mr. Jones' claim was for $30 billion. His attorney, Tyrone A. Blackburn, said that was an error and would be corrected to reflect a $30 million claim. Ms. Holley's statement was originally in response to $30 billion.
According to Mr. Jones' complaint, he was forced to drink drug-laced shots of tequila at a July 2023 listening party at Mr. Combs' California home, although court documents do not say who offered him the shots or how he was feeling forced. In the statement of claim, Mr. Jones says that after drinking, he passed out and “woke up naked at 4 a.m. with a sex worker sleeping next to him.”
According to the lawsuit, Mr. Combs also forced Mr. Jones to “recruit sex workers and perform sexual acts for Mr. Combs’ pleasure.” To persuade him, Mr. Jones says, Mr. Combs offered him money and also threatened him with violence.
The 73-page lawsuit is full of graphic details and photos and, in addition to Mr. Combs, names as a defendant Universal Music Group – the giant music company with which Mr. Combs briefly worked before the release of “The Love Album” as well as some of his top artists. Management. The lawsuit said that Mr. Combs maintained control over Mr. Jones by promising him awards and access to high-level record executives.
A representative for Universal Music did not immediately comment.
In his lawsuit, Mr. Jones claims he was not properly paid for his work producing “The Love Album,” and earlier this month he launched a crowdfunding campaign online with a statement that read, “Help me, Sean ‘Diddy “To sue Combs.” (As of Monday, less than $1,500 of the stated goal of $50,000 had been raised.)
Mr. Jones' lawsuit is the latest in a series of explosive allegations against Mr. Combs, one of the key figures who transformed hip-hop into a major global pop movement in the 1990s and collaborated with stars such as Mary J. Blige and the Infamous BIG
In November, Casandra Ventura, Mr. Combs' longtime girlfriend and signed to his Bad Boy label under the name Cassie, accused him of rape and years of physical and sexual abuse in a detailed lawsuit that made headlines around the world. That lawsuit was settled in just one day, with both parties saying it was settled “amicably” and a lawyer for Mr. Combs saying he disputed the allegations.
Three more cases followed shortly afterwards, each alleging sexual assault. Mr. Combs denied this, saying: “Disgusting allegations have been made against me by people looking for a quick payday.” Let me be clear: I have done none of the terrible things I have been accused of . I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”
Mr. Combs' lawyers fought the remaining claims in court, arguing in a filing last week that the claim of a woman who says Mr. Combs gang-raped her in 2003, when she was 17, was too old , to bring them despite the plaintiff's argument that it was revived by a change to a New York law that provided a window for filing expired claims. The lawyers said the lawsuit had “irreparably damaged” Mr. Combs’ reputation based on “high-profile, uncorroborated allegations.”